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Approve an intergovernmental agreement with Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation for revenue of $1,000,000 for a 1 year period ending December 10, 2020 to implement 7 projects to improve the health and well-being of the people of Solano County, including $500,000 to support for basic needs and the First 5 Center in Vallejo, $100,000 to continue the Mobile Food Pharmacy program, $194,000 to VibeSolano's prevention and wellness strategies to prevent chronic health conditions, $11,000 to assist adults attain their high school diplomas with support through County Library Services, $150,000 to assist probation clients make a successful transition into society after exiting the juvenile justice system and $45,000 to support six grants designed to help prepare youth for the workforce by providing essential skills; Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) for $1,000,000 for FY2019/20 in unanticipated revenue (4/5 vote required); and Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the intergovernmental agreement and contracts and agreements related to project implementation
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Published Notice Required? Yes____ No_X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes____ No __X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Departments of Health & Social Services (H&SS), First 5 Solano, Solano County Library, and Solano County Probation recommend the Board of Supervisors approve an intergovernmental agreement with Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation for revenue of $1,000,000 for a one-year period ending December 10, 2020 to implement 7 projects to improve the health and well-being of the people of Solano County, including $500,000 to support for basic needs and the First 5 Center in Vallejo, $100,000 to continue the Mobile Food Pharmacy program, $194,000 to VibeSolano's prevention and wellness strategies to prevent chronic health conditions, $11,000 to assist adults attain their high school diplomas with support through County Library Services, $150,000 to assist probation clients make a successful transition into society after exiting the juvenile justice system and $45,000 to support six grants designed to help prepare youth for the workforce by providing essential skills; Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) for $1,000,000 for FY2019/20 in unanticipated revenue (4/5 vote required); and Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the intergovernmental agreement and contracts and agreements related to project implementation.
SUMMARY:
In October 2017, the County of Solano and Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation (Yocha Dehe) entered an intergovernmental agreement which provided $1,000,000 to support three projects to help people in need throughout Solano County: Vibe Solano, a multi-pronged health campaign intended to prevent and reduce chronic diseases; the Mobile Food Pharmacy, a mobile food van to bring healthy and nutritious food to low-income, food insecure patients of Solano County Family Health Services Medical Clinics; and Helping Families with Basic Needs, a fund to assist families throughout the county to cover their basic living expenses. Numerous families throughout Solano County have benefitted from these three projects.
Based on the success of the initial year of partnership, in 2018 Yocha Dehe agreed to a second year of funding to assist the most vulnerable residents of Solano County, including continuing funding for the three projects in year 1, and expanding to include two new projects: High School Diplomas for adults through Solano County’s Career Online High School; and Increasing Access to Transportation for Seniors through a vehicle share programs. Over the last two years, the programs have achieved numerous successes and evolved to meet the needs of the residents of Solano County.
This item brings forward the intergovernmental agreement for a third year of funding. Once again, the Yocha Dehe Tribal Council has agreed to provide Solano County with $1,000,000 to fund the following projects:
1. Helping Families: Continue the support for basic needs and the First 5 Center in Vallejo.
2. Mobile Food Pharmacy and Food Rx: Continue to bring food to those in need via health clinics and throughout Solano County.
3. VibeSolano: Continue prevention and wellness strategies to combat chronic health conditions.
4. High School Diplomas: Continue to assist adults to earn High School Diplomas through a partnership with the library.
5. Transportation for Seniors: Evaluate the effectiveness of the vehicle share program in transporting seniors and people with disabilities.
6. Transition Support for At Risk Youth: This new component will allow Solano County Probation to fill gaps in preparing youth to transition out of the system by providing them professional attire, educational and vocational materials, mentoring, and more.
7. Promote Youth Workforce Development: The new component will allow the Health Solano Collaborative to provide 6 grants for youth workforce development.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no requirement for local matching funds for implementation of these projects and there is no cost to the General Fund. The costs associated with preparing this agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2019/20 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation is a sovereign Native American nation which holds ancestral territory within the boundaries of Solano County. Yocha Dehe remains committed to improving the environment, education status, and the health, safety and general welfare of not only its citizens, but Native American and non-Native American people throughout California. Revenues from gaming operations enable Yocha Dehe to help non-tribal communities in a meaningful way, including supporting local jurisdictions.
In August 2016, Yocha Dehe amended their Tribal-State Compact between the State of California and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. The Compact provides a funding mechanism for Yocha Dehe to fund local government services in counties that Yocha Dehe has ancestral territory (Colusa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Yolo counties) as recognized by the Native American Heritage Commission.
In December 2016, Supervisor Hannigan first entered discussions with Yocha Dehe staff on their interests in providing funding to Solano County which, in 2017, resulted in the funding of three projects aimed at improving the health and well-bring of residents of Solano by targeting high-risk populations via three distinct projects. In 2018, Yocha Dehe provided another year of funding, continuing the projects from year 1 and expanding to add 2 additional projects. Outcomes
Outcomes of the projects in Year 2 include:
• Helping Families: The $200,000 basic needs fund assisted 406 families (over 1,500 individuals!) throughout Solano County with basic needs to remain safely in their homes. Rental assistance was the highest need, helping 189 families avoid homelessness. In addition, $300,000 was used toward tenant improvements at the First 5 Center in Vallejo. Construction is well underway with the Grand Opening planned for January 2020!
• The Mobile Food Pharmacy and Food RX program: Utilizing $50,000 new funds in Year 2, 86,870 pounds of food was distributed to 5,645 low-income households and 2,566 Food RX prescriptions were redeemed at the Mobile Food Pharmacy. The program has been greatly expanded in Year 2 operating 4 days a week and expanding to three additional federally qualified health centers. The program received both a National Association of County Governments (NACo) Achievement Award, as well as a California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Challenge Award.
• VibeSolano: With $333,500, VibeSolano continued making lasting system changes to encourage residents to make healthy choices and keep chronic disease at bay, including: partnered with Touro University’s Mobile Diabetes Education Center to provide blood glucose screenings and diabetes education to 857 individuals; launched a blood pressure self-monitoring program Just Check It!; assisted in making homes safer for seniors through a combination of advocacy and direct service efforts; and increased access of healthy food and drinks by working with local organizations to change food procurement policies, leverage funds, and increase access to water bottle filling stations.
• High School Diplomas: Solano County library utilized $16,500 to draw down a match of $16,350 and purchase 30 scholarships for a career online high school. To date 14 scholarships have been provided and 20 additional students are in the pipeline.
• Transportation for Seniors: $100,000 was used to partner with Solano Transportation Authority (STA) to purchase two wheelchair accessible vehicles for a Vehicle Share Program in which non-profit agencies can borrow the vehicles to transport seniors and others with disabilities. During the program year, the vans were purchased and outfitted, and seven non-profits are registered to the program soon to be transporting those in need.
The Year 3 request incorporated into the Intergovernmental Agreement and Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) continues many of the programs that have become embedded in the Solano community, as well as adds two new programs to support at-risk youth.
Funding requests for the Year 3 program include:
Request 1: $500,000 for basic needs support and the First 5 Center in Vallejo
The County is working to amplify our efforts assisting the most marginalized in our community by opening a First 5 Center in Vallejo in January. First 5 Center staff and on-site partners will connect families to community resources such as health care, mental health services, job coaching, vocational training, childcare, early intervention services, CalWORKs, CalFresh, crisis response and domestic violence intervention, immigration services and other family supports. All services will be family centered, culturally appropriate, and trauma informed. The $500,000 year 3 funding request will continue assisting families with meeting basic needs, along with implementing a full scope of services at the First 5 Center so kids in Vallejo and throughout Solano County can achieve their fullest potential. See attachment D for the Basic Needs / First 5 Center funding proposal.
Request 2: $100,000 for the Food Rx Program and Mobile Food Pharmacy
This project brings healthy and nutritious food to the low-income, people in need throughout Solano County. Since the official launch of the program, with the truck operating on a four day per week schedule, 5,258 households received produce and other foods totaling 79,629 pounds, an average of 478 households per month. The $100,000 year 3 funding request would ensure the continued success of the program and its expansion to Family Health Services' FQHC partners, including helping cover operations, vehicle maintenance and repairs and staffing a Public Health Nutritionist. See attachment E for the Food Rx and Mobile Food Pharmacy funding proposal.
Request 3: $194,000 to fund VibeSolano’s prevention and wellness programs
VibeSolano strives to create a more vibrant, healthy community for Solano County residents by providing programs and services that help residents take steps to prevent chronic disease, prevent injury, gain access to healthy food and beverage options and engage in active, healthy living practices that promote resiliency and health equity. The $194,000 year 3 funding request would ensure the continued outreach and success of these programs that are administered by Solano County Health and Social Services. See attachment F for the VibeSolano funding proposal.
Request 4: $11,000 to match funding for 20 people to earn high school diplomas
Currently there are 12 students who have enrolled in the Solano County Library’s Online High School diploma program and 20 more are in the assessment process. Part of the world’s first accredited, private online school district, Career Online High School is specifically designed to reengage adults into the education system and prepare them for entry into post-secondary career education or the workforce. The $11,000 year 3 funding request would be used to support the next group of students (up to 20 students) to earn high school diplomas through the County Library’s Online High School diploma program. See attachment G for the Online High School funding proposal.
Request 5: $0. Continue to monitor and evaluate transportation services for seniors
The goal of the County’s Vehicle Ride Share Program is to provide seniors and the disabled with options to help support their mobility throughout Solano County through the purchase and operation of two mobility vehicles. While the program has a strong foundation and community partnership support from the Solano Transportation Authority, the program has gotten off to a slower start that initially anticipated, including a replacement of two wheelchair lifts as the result of a recall. There is no request for funding in year 3 as the program will continue to be evaluated. See attachment H for the Vehicle Share Program update and timeline of significant accomplishments.
Request 6: $150,000 for transition support for at-risk youth
The Solano County Probation Department has identified several gaps that, if filled, would help young people during probation supervision and/or exit from the juvenile justice system. The $150,000 year 3 funding will provide at-risk youth in transition from the juvenile justice system into the Solano community with professional attire, educational and vocational materials, celebrations, motivational speakers, a Challenge Day, mentoring services and other support such as housing and transportation assistance. The primary goal of the Probation department is to reduce recidivism through positive behavior change. See attachment I for the transition support funding for at-risk youth funding proposal.
Request 7: $45,000 to promote youth workforce development
The goal of the youth workforce development program is to provide communities with resources and guidance that support the cultivation of career interests and job skills in youth and to expose people of all ages to opportunities from assessment/education/experience/skill building for job readiness. Solano Public Health has already received 21 proposals to assist young people in workforce readiness and was able provide 3 mini-grants to organizations. The $45,000 year 3 funding will allow Public Health to engage in six more inspiring proposals, including sustainable Solano land and water caretakers training and certificate program, the aquatic skills workforce development program through the Greater Vallejo Recreation District, the PAL Works! paid internship program through the Fairfield Police Activities League, the Read and REAP the Rewards! development program through the Solano County Computer Digital Skills Center, the Power Building, Civic Engagement and Career Development for youth through Club Stride and Youth in the Booth program by the Greater Purpose Church. See attachment J for the promotion of youth workforce development funding proposal.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to approve the intergovernmental agreement or ATR. This is not recommended as the agreement will bring revenue into Solano County for services which will benefit a wide variety of community members. In addition, this will continue the on-going mutually beneficial relationship with the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Solano County Health & Social Services, First 5 Solano, the Solano County Library, the Solano County Transportation Authority, and Solano County Probation have been working closely with Supervisor Erin Hannigan and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. In addition, the intergovernmental agreement has been reviewed by county counsel.